Hardcore Ferrari 488 GTO Set To Fight The Porsche 911 GT2 RS

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Ferrari’s answer to the Porsche GT2 RS is expected to debut in Geneva next year.

Ferrari wants to stop Porsche stealing the spotlight with the phenomenal GT2 RS. Rumors suggest the automaker is preparing a hardcore version of the 488 GTB to fight the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which could bring back the GTO moniker. We’ve already seen photos of a camouflaged test mule, but these latest spy shots shared by Motor.es show what looks like a near-production prototype of the hardcore 488 GTO. It’s still partially covered, but we get a much clearer look at the 488 GTO’s angrier front-end.

The location where the car was spotted isn’t known, so we can only presume it was at a Ferrari testing facility in Italy. The track-focused Ferrari 488 GTO is expected to launch next year with more power and less weight than its standard 488 GTB sibling. Its 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 has reportedly been upgraded to deliver between 700 and 720 hp so we can expect a power increase of around 30 – 50-hp, but it remains to be seen if the torque has received a boost over the current 560 lb-ft. As well as a power increase, the Ferrari 488 GTO will also benefit from a substantial weight loss. Reports suggest that Ferrari has shed 75 kg, bringing the weight down to under 1,400 kg.

To achieve this, Ferrari has rationed the 488 GTO on a strict diet by thinning the glass of the windshield and side windows, removing the sound-deadening material, and installing ceramic brakes and forged wheels. These specifications should make the Ferrari 488 GTO a worthy rival to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. As well as an improved power-to-weight ratio, Ferrari’s answer to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS will likely have a more aerodynamic body to increase downforce. From the photo, the front bumper appears to have been redesigned and fitted with a carbon-fiber add-on. The Ferrari 488 GTO is expected to debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March, but we suspect it will be revealed sooner online.